NBA Rumors: How Deadline Deals Impact Deron Williams's Future with Nets

Deron Williams's future with the New Jersey Nets has been presumed to be linked with Dwight Howard's. With Howard waving the right to opt out of his contract, there is a general presumption now that Williams will leave New Jersey at the end of the year to go to Dallas. That's not a given, however. 

There are some things which could entice him to stay. First, the money is better if he stays in Brooklyn. There are more endorsement opportunities there. There's also the fact that he can get a larger contract, though that's not quite as large an incentive as it might seem. 

Texas has no state income tax, so if he goes to Dallas, that mitigates the difference to some degree. Opting out also eliminates the possibility of the fifth, and most lucrative, year on the contract. So while there is some advantage, it's lessened by the circumstances. 

Having said that, Williams, via contract and endorsements, would be able to make more money in Brooklyn than Dallas. 

He also has incentives to stay there if winning is his priority. 

The Nets took a good first step in getting Gerald Wallace to play small forward. Wallace is a high-energy player who provides both offense and defense at the small forward position. Coupling him with rookie MarShon Brooks gives the Nets a potent attack on the wings. 

In addition to that, the Nets have been playing most of the year without their starting center, Brook Lopez. When he returns in another week, that will effectively "add" two quality players to the Nets roster. 

What they do over the rest of the season could impact what Williams does. Chris Paul has decided to waive his option to opt out of his contract. Howard has too. If the Nets can finish out the season strong, it's possible Williams will as well, and Wallace could have an impact on that. 

What else factors into this is that the Nets have only $43 million committed for next season. That means they'll have enough money to keep Lopez and add another quality free agent. Players that would be available include the likes of Roy Hibbert, Elton Brand, Chris Kaman and Spencer Hawes. 

Adding a center would allow them to move Lopez to the power forward, where he might serve better with his skill set anyway. 

Certainly, playing with Dirk Nowitzki overshadows anyone he would play with in Brooklyn for now, but for the long term, Brooklyn, building a younger team around a veteran base under 30, would be better. 

If the rest of the year, the Nets can play well enough to persuade Williams that they are only a player away from being a contender, he could waive his option to opt out of his contract. There's just enough bait there between the larger endorsement opportunities, building around a younger team and the extra contract money he'd get, to make it a possibility.